What does physiology study in relation to organisms?

Physiology is the branch of biology that focuses on the study of the functions and mechanisms in living organisms. By examining how organisms perform their vital processes, physiology looks at chemical and physical functions, including how systems like the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems operate and interact. This encompasses how cells, tissues, and organs function in coordination to maintain homeostasis and support life.

In contrast to the other areas mentioned, physiology specifically emphasizes the functions that drive life processes rather than structures, classifications, or evolutionary aspects. Evolutionary relationships explore how species are related and have changed over time, while structural diversity concerns the variations in form and structure among organisms. Taxonomic classification deals with the naming and organizing of species rather than their functional processes. Thus, the realm of physiology is distinctly positioned to investigate the dynamic operations that sustain life in organisms.